Our Team

Company Founders

L. Jayson Lemberg

Founder

L. Jayson Lemberg co-founded Pioneer Acquisitions in early 2009 and has helped drive the company’s growth to new heights. Previously, Jayson was a Vice President and Head of Deal Origination for Thor Equities, a global real estate investment and development firm.

Mr. Lemberg was responsible for identifying acquisition/development opportunities primarily in the New York Metropolitan area and investing capital for the firm’s funds. He personally originated over $2 billion in potential deal volume, over 50% of which was off-market or direct to owner. Prior to joining Thor, Mr. Lemberg worked in the acquisitions group at The City Investment Fund, a real estate opportunity fund in Manhattan co-sponsored by Fisher Brothers and Morgan Stanley. He also covered the freight transportation industry as an Associate Analyst in equity research at JP Morgan.

Mr. Lemberg earned a Master of Business Administration at the New York University Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Roberto C. Goizueta Business School at Emory University.

James B. Peterson, Jr.

Founder

James B. Peterson, Jr. has been active in the real estate industry for over fifteen years. As a Principal at Pioneer Acquisitions, James has overseen the acquisition of over 2,000 residential units and multiple retail assets across dozens of transactions.

From 2005 to 2009, Mr. Peterson was responsible for deal origination, transactions, and asset management at Thor Equities, a global real estate investment and development firm. On the transaction side, he closed over $180 million in urban retail and mixed-use acquisitions.

In addition to his experience with real estate finance and management, James spent five years as a project manager with a design / build firm in Chicago focusing on significant construction and development projects.

James earned a Masters of Business Administration at the New York University Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Science, Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Our Team

Ophira Cukierman

Chief Operating Officer

As Chief Administrative Officer, Ophira focuses on corporate functions including HR, recruitment, training, systems coordination, and information technology. She has over 10 years of corporate recruiting experience, and 5+ years of multifamily real estate experience. Ophira holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Tom Discioscia

Controller

As Controller, Tom oversees the full cycle accounting function including financial reporting, accounts payable and cash management. Tom has over 30 years of accounting experience and over 15 years of experience in the multifamily real estate industry. Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Mercy College.

Nichole Granquist

Director of Leasing & Revenue

An Illinois licensed Broker, Nichole has been tasked with overseeing the marketing, leasing, and revenue generation efforts for Pioneer Acquisitions. Her background includes property management positions with Atlantic Realty Partners, Golub & Company, and Village Green. She has experience completing successful lease-ups of high profile properties, rebranding initiatives, and implementation of ancillary income programs. Nichole holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Trinity Christian College.

Nick Hollenkamp

Director of Asset Management

As Director of Asset Management, Nick oversees the financial reporting to lenders and investors, underwrites potential acquisitions, and is involved with the renovation and redevelopment planning for current assets. His other responsibilities include sourcing off-market deals and devising future growth strategies for the firm. Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Chicago.

Nola Bounds

Senior Property Manager, Pioneer Realty Management

Nola comes to Pioneer Acquisitions with over 12 years of experience in property management. As our Senior Property Manager, Nola manages our North Side office and properties. Nola’s background includes Management positions with well-known Chicago Property Management firms including Avalon Bay, Golub, Village Green, and Atlantic Realty. She studied at DePaul University in Chicago and joined Pioneer Acquisitions in July 2018.

Paul Schultz

Director of Property Management, Hyde Park Property Management

Paul brings with him over 15 years of multi-family industry experience including five years of working with large REITS such as Avalon Bay and AIMCO. His breadth of experience includes all types of properties including vintage, historical, high rise, mid-rise, and modern luxury garden walk-ups in both Chicago and the Suburbs. Paul is a U.S. Army National Guard Veteran and holds a BS degree from Western Illinois University.

Jeff Santini

Project/Construction Accountant

Having spent several years at a division of the Related Companies, Jeff handles a variety of accounting projects for Pioneer. His experience spans both residential and commercial real estate accounting. Jeff earned a Master’s in Accounting from Sacred Heart University in Connecticut.

Wendy Davidson

Property Accountant

Wendy has over 10 years of hands-on real estate experience ranging from compliance to property accounting. She joined Pioneer’s accounting team in 2017 as the Property Accountant for a diverse mix of portfolio assets. Wendy holds a Master’s Degree in Accounting and Financial Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University.

Faith Barker

Marketing Manager

As marketing manager, Faith strategically and creatively spearheads Pioneer’s marketing efforts. From generating and gathering enticing content for social media accounts to designing all company marketing materials, Faith provides our team with the promotional tools needed to create a strong brand presence. She comes to Pioneer having worked in both the business technology and nonprofit industries. Faith obtained two Bachelors of Arts from Bradley University.